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Ride Profile
parkworld-online.com
BELOW: Bambooz River was reintroduced in 201?
BELOW: Timber! and Woodstock Express side-by-side
Pushed by Simon and Manuel to make Timber! the best
ride that it could be, the Gravity Group produced seven different proposals for the park's consideration, before it settled on the 446m-long (1,463ft) layout that has become such a hit with Walibi guests (achieving average approval scores of 9/10 and above). “We chose Gravity Group because they were offering us
A new
Adventure Appearing alongside Timber! In Explorer Adventure are two other rides for the enjoyment of guests at Walibi Rhône-Alpes. Volt-o-Vent is a Barnyard from Zamperla chosen for its family-friendly credentials but also its ready-themed appearance, meaning it fits instantly within its surroundings. Previously known as both Zig
Zag and Scratch, Woodstock Express is a Zamperla wild mouse now with an imposing themed facade. “The challenge was 'OK, we have this new Explorer Adventure area, but we have this ride which does not fit because it is metal looking,” explains the park's marketing man, Thomas Mondon. “So we decided to create a wooden wall and change the experience for our guests, around 70% of whom are repeat visitors. Now, when you get on the ride, you do not see inside and then you go through the wall; it's a good feeling for the riders.” All of the theming throughout
Explorer Adventure was designed in- house by Compagnie des Alpes, employing a modern twist on the Canadian lumberjack theme. This is evident on Woodstock Express and also the new Wild Rock Café, where North American classics such as pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs and waffles and are on sale.
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a truly innovative wooden coaster,” says Walibi Rhône-Alpes director Luc de Roo. “They didn't just build us a ride and say 'Here you go'. They really did everything to meet our expectations, as well as those of our visitors.” During the 1-minute long ride, guests reach speeds of up
to 64kmh (40mph). Two very nicely-styled custom 12-seater Timberliner trains are in use on the attraction. Since the ride was launched in April, park staff have perfected a very efficient loading/unloading process, providing an hourly passenger capacity between 500 and 600. A minimum height limit of just 1.1/1.2m (for accompanied/unaccompanied kids), ensures Timber! Is available to a wide range of Walibi guests. “At a park of our size, you have the opportunity to try
Timber! two, three, four times during your visit,” notes Mondon. “Even on a very crowded day, the wait is not more than 45 minutes.” “Now that I see the finished ride and the way it wraps
around Woodstock Express, it looks natural, like it has always been there,” declares Kiepert. “Timber! actually has the feel of a much larger ride. It offers 100% fun – airtime intermixed with multiple tight curves. One standout feature is its banked double-up airtime hill. The first half is banked in one direction while the second half is banked in the opposite direction. The result is this unique mix of airtime while you are twisting around.” Based in Cincinnati, the Gravity Group sourced the wood
for the ride from the USA and was one of two American firms that pitched for the project. Almost all other companies involved in the construction of the ride, however, were recruited less than an hour from the park.
The future is themed “Walibi Rhône-Alpes is a leisure park,” confirms Mondon, “but since opening Explorer Adventure we want to go more in the direction of a theme park. We are now working on new themes for different areas and will choose how many areas we will do. Our ambition is to deliver a nice experience whether you are riding a ride, eating some food, or just walking around each area. Maybe that wasn't the
case a few years ago.” Targeting those within a two-hour drive of the park,
including French-speaking areas of Switzerland such as Geneva and Lausanne (“we get some tourists but they are not our primary market,” says Mondon), Walibi Rhône- Alpes' immediate goal is to finish the year with around 25,000 more guests than in 2015. The season started well in April and May, June took a hit due to wet weather and July was flat compared to last year. With around 40% of turnover traditionally generated in August (the month this article was written), management should have a decent idea how things are shaping up by the time you read this. Mondon acknowledges that “the current social, economic
security situation right now in France is quite challenging,” but adds that the park should finish 2016 on a high thanks to its burgeoning Halloween season, which will be extended this year from 11 days and nights to 16. More family-friendly than Walibi Holland's Fright Nights, Explorer Adventure will be featured this year as one of two scare zones. A new attraction, smaller than Timber!, will open in 2017,
and then bigger attractions down the line. Should the park hit the 600,000 attendance mark sooner than 2024 (Park World suspects it might), then a hotel could be considered. Given that the operating season is currently just 130 days a year, however, it will have to earn its keep also when the park is closed. For now, Walibi Rhône-Alpes partners with between 60 and 70 local accommodation providers, offering their a discount on park admission to coax holidaymakers out of the campsite or away from the hotel pool. With Timber! there's no excuse not to pay a visit.
Also new for 2016 is this Zamperla Barnyard ride called Volt-o-Vent SEPTEMBER 2016
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